The smallest possible bribe

I have to bribe Kevin a lot to get him to do things he wouldn't prefer to do. Brush your teeth if you want to go to Great Wolf Lodge; or go to bed so you can go to Swim-n-gym tomorrow, etc.

I select my bribes carefully, I don't want my offer to be too big, I'd never be able to back it up or offer it again; or too small, he'd never go for it. The promise of going to Great Wolf Lodge can work for about six months, and it works great when there is a specific date attached, this time January fifth. I often need a bribe that has immediate payoff like first we'll go shopping at Target then you can have fries from Chick-fil-A. The past several weeks I bribed Kevin with mini golf and Five Guys Burgers so he'd go to church. This week my husband is out of town and I wanted to go to church so I'd been racking my brain thinking of something I could use as a bribe that didn't involve a lot of calories (more fries), or spending time out in the cold (more mini golf). The bribes are a sacrifice on my part, what I'm willing to do or give up to get the desired behavior out of my son.

This morning was no different. I wanted to go to church and take him with me. I wanted a quiet compliant child, but what did I have to offer? Then it struck me.

"Kevin, will you go to church with me?"
"Yes."